Proteins

Proteins are the most abundant organic

molecules of the living system
They occur in every part of the cell and
constitute about 50% of the cellular dry
weight
They form the fundamental basis of
structure and function of life.
Functions of Protein
Static (structural function) functions:
e.g. Elastin, collage, keratin
Dynamic functions:
As enzymes, hormones, blood clotting
factors, immunoglobulin, membrane
receptors, storage proteins, muscle
contraction, respiration.
Composition of Protein
Proteins are predominantly constituted by five
major elements in the following proportion
carbon 50-55 %
hydrogen 6-7.3 %
Oxygen 19-24 %
Nitrogen 12- 19 %
Sulfur, 0- 4%
Beside these proteins also contain other
elemts as P, Fe, Cu, I, Mg, Mn, Zn, etc.
Amino Acids
A group of organic compounds containing two
functional group
Amino (-NH )- basic
2
Carboxyl (-COOH) Acidic

The Alpha carbon atom

binds to side chain
represented by R which
is different for each of
the 20 amino acids
Classification of
amino acids
Essential or indispensable amino acids
the amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the
body and therefore need to be supplied through diet
they are required for proper growth and
maintenance
Non essential or dispensable amino acids
the body can synthesize about 10 amino acids to
meet the biological needs hence they cannot be
consumed in the diet
Glycine, alanine, serine,cysteine, aspartate,
asparagine, glutamate, glutamine, tyrosine,
proline
Non- amino acids
these are also referred to as
hydrophobic. They have no charge on
the R group
Alanine, leucine, isoleucine

Polar amino acids with no charge on R group

they posses groups such as hydroxyl,
sulfhydryl and amide and participate in
hydrogen boding of protein structure.
Glycine, serine, threonine, cysteine
Polar amino acids with positive R group
lysine, arginine and histidine are
included in this group

Polar amino acids with a negative R group

Aspartic acid, glutamic acid